Ruling and lining guide for typewriters



Nov. 10, 1936. LAND|$ 2,060,327

RULING AND LINING GUIDE FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed March 2, 1935 Earl E. Landis Patented Nov. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES RULING AND LINING GUIDE FOR TYPEWRITERS Earl E. Landis, Seattle, Wash.

Application March 2, 1935, Serial No. 9,077

10 Claims.

My invention relates to typewriters, and is incorporated in an integral part of the typewriter, not in an attachment.

Frequently in typing it is desirable to underscore a line, to draw horizontal lines, or to draw column lines. While there is an underscoring type bar on the typewriter, it underscores only one letter at a time, and to underscore a whole line the underscoring type bar must be pressed for each letter space, entirely across the line. Such a line, moreover, is sometimes ragged due to improper registry of the two ends of the type bar. There is no provision at present in standard typewriters for the purpose of drawing vertical or column lines, and the only way a column line can be drawn, other than taking the paper out of the typewriter and ruling it, is to employ a type bar such as the colon, shifting the carriage and platen each time to align successive strikes vertically, which is a tedious job.

Accordingly it is an object of my invention to provide means associated with the typewriter whereby the underscoring of lines or the drawing of transverse lines, and the ruling of vertical column lines is made easy of accomplishment, without removal of the paper from the typewriter, and by means which insure the desired registry with the lines and letter spaces.

It is a further object to accomplish the above ends in an extremely simple manner, avoiding the attachmentto the typewriter of extra devices for this purpose, and avoiding the employment of any means which will interfere with or detract in any way from the normal operation of the typewriter, or from the convenience of the typist.

More specifically it is an object to provide, in association with the normal line and letter guide of a typewriter, a device for positioning and hold- 4 ing the marking tip only of a pencil, to the end that by shifting the carriage transversely with respect to the line and letter guide a transverse line may be drawn, or a typed line may be underscored, and whereby by rotating the platen Irelative to the line and letter guide a vertical column line may be drawn, either in registry with a type space, or if desired, intermediate two adjacent type spaces. 1

My invention comprises the novel line and letter guide, and the novel combination of the same with the associated typewriter parts, all as shown in the accompanying drawing, described in this specification, and as will be more particularly pointed out by the claims which terminate the same.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown my invention embodied in connection with typical typewriter and line and letter guide forms.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a standard typewriter, showing the manner of using my in- 5 vention, which is incorporated therein.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the line and letter guide of such typewriter, showing the manner in which the same cooperates with the work to effect ruling and lining. 10

Figure 3 is an elevation of a modified form of line and letter guide, showing my invention incorporated therein.

The typewriter differs but little from any standard typewriter. It comprises a frame I, a 5 carriage 2 slidable transversely of the frame, and carrying a platen 3 which is rotatably mounted in the carriage, and the rotation of this platen may be accomplished by such means as the handles 4. 20

Mounted upon the frame, usually at opposite sides of the guide which receives the heel of the type bar in striking, which latter is indicated at 5, is a line and letter guide 6. This lies closely adjacent the front of the platen 3, and its upper 25 edge I5 is located immediately beneath the line being typed or in position for typing. As may be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the line and letter guide has graduations l which define letter spaces, so that the typist may effect registry of 30 the sheet with previously typed matter upon reinsertion of the sheet in the typewriter. The means of mounting this line and letter guide are unimportant, but as shown herein they comprise light spring fingers 8 having holes 9 whereby they 35 may be riveted or screwed to the frame I; the guide will be pressed against the face of the platen or against a sheet of paper III which is rolled about the platen.

Associated with the line and letter guide 6, ac- 4Q cording to my invention, are the means for engaging the marking tip only of a pencil I l, which may otherwise be supported in the hand of the typist. These means comprise simply holes I! and I3 in the line and letter guide 6, so located 5 as to enable the lining or vertical ruling of the paper in the manner described.

Let us assume that a line It has been typed upon the paper Ill, and that it is desired to underscore this or to draw a guide line across beneath 50 the type line H. The tip of the pencil II is inserted in either or any of the holes l2 and I3, which have been located somewhat beneath the upper edge l5 of the line and letter guide. With the pencil thus positioned and its outer end held 55 by the typist, the carriage is shifted transversely Y with respect to the frame, and the resins-.13 a

- on the paper "I and on any carbon copies beneath. If it is preferred to draw the column lines, indicated by the dotted lines l8, through a letter space, the hole I! is employed which is located in registry with a letter space on the work,

and thus by rotation of the platen the column lines.

I. will be drawn in registry with vertically aligned le'tter spaces. If,-h0wever, it is preferred to draw lines I! which lie intermediate the letter spaces, then the hole I! is used, this lying between two letter spaces on the work, whereby upon rotating the platen the lines I! are drawn lying in exact registry with the boundary of two adjacent letter spaces.

Figure 3 shows the same idea incorporated in a shorter line and letter guide such as is used in certain so-called portable typewriters.

The line and letter guide need not be altered in form at all. or at the most may be slightly enlarged adjacent the holes I! and I3, as shown, to somewhat strengthen the metal at this point, but except for this (and the enlargement is optional) the typewriter need be changed not at all, and there is no large attachment in the way or obstructing ready access to the work, yet the ruling and lining device is ready for use at any time merely by holding a pencil in the appropriate guide and moving the carriage or platen, as the case may be.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination with the frame, sliding carriage, and rotatable platen of a typewriter, a line and letter guide carried by the frame and disposed in front of work held upon the platen, said guide having a hole therein of a size to receive the tip of a pencil held by an operator, and located wholly beneath the printing line of the platen, whereby to draw straight transverse lines underscoring a line just typed on the work, by the reciprocation of the carriage, and straight longitudinal lines by the rotation of the platen, past a pencil so held.

2. In combination with the frame, sliding carriage, and rotatable platen of a typewriter, a sheet metal plate carried by the frame and disposed close to the platen and in front of work held upon the latter, said plate having a small hole therein of a size to receive only the marking tip of a pencil held by an operator, and located wholly beneath the printing line of the platen, whereby, with a pencil so held with its tip in said hole and resting on the work, to draw straight transverse lines underscoring a line just typed upon the work, by reciprocation of the carriage, and straight longitudinal lines by rotation of the platen. v

3. In combination, the frame, sliding carriage, and platen of a typewriter, and 'a line and letter guide, having a hole disposed beneath the printing line of the platen, of a size to receive the marking tip of a pencil held by an operator,

whereby, by reciprocation of the carriage past a pencil so held, to underscore a line just typed on work held upon the platen.

4. In combination, the frame, carriage, and rotatable platen of, a typewriter, and a line and letter guide having a hole disposed in registry with a type space in the printing line of the platen, of a size to receive only the marking tip of a pencil held by an operator, whereby, upon rotation of the platen and consequent movement of work held thereby, past a pencil so held, to draw a line in registry with a type space.

5. In combination, the frame, carriage, and rotatable platen of a typewriter, and a line and letter guide, having a hole disposed intermediate two type spaces of the printing line of the platen, of a size to receive only the marking tip of a pencil held by an operator, whereby, upon rotation of the platen and consequent movement of work held thereby, past a pencil so held, to draw a line in registry with the space between letter spaces of a line just typed.

6. In combination, the frame, carriage, and rotatable platen of a typewriter, and a line and letter guide, having two holes, one disposed in registry with a type space and one disposed intermediate two type spaces of the printing line of the platen, said holes being each of a size to receive only the marking tip of a pencil held by an operator, whereby, upon rotation of the platen and consequent movement of work held thereby, past a pencil so held in one or the other of such holes, to draw a line in registry with or intermediate type spaces on such work.

7. A typewriter line and letter guide comprising a strip of sheet metal having graduations spaced to indicate letter spacings, its upper edge defining a straight line beneath the printing line of the platen and having supporting means adapted for cooperation with a fixed support thus to position the guide, said guide also having a hole of a size to receive only the marking tip of a pencil, and disposed beneath its upper edge.

8. A typewriter line and letter guide comprising a strip of sheet metal having graduations spaced to indicate letter spacings, its upper edge defining a straight line beneath a line being typed, and having supporting means adapted for cooperation with a fixed support thus to position the guide, said guide also having a hole of a size to receive only the marking tip of a pencil, and disposed in registry with a type space.

9. A typewriter line and letter guide comprising a strip of sheet metal having graduations spaced to indicate letter spacings, its upper edge defining a straight line beneath a line being typed, and having supporting means adapted for cooperation with a fixed support thus to position the guide, said guide also having a hole of a size to receive only the marking tip of a pencil, and disposed intermediate two type spaces.

10. A typewriter line and letter guide comprising a strip of sheet metal having graduations spaced to indicate letter spacings, its upper edge defining a straight line beneath a line being typed, and having supporting means adapted for cooperation with a fixed support thus to position the guide, said guide also having a hole of a size to receive only the marking .tip of a pencil, and disposed in registry with a type space, and having a second similarly sized hole disposed intermediate two type spaces, each of said holes being located beneath the upper edge of the guide.

, EARL E. LANDIS. 

